Boone High student arrested after schools locked down

Police arrested a 17-year-old student after finding a fake explosive in his backpack that caused two schools to go on lockdown.

September 17, 2010|By Bianca Prieto, Orlando Sentinel

Orlando police arrested a 17-year-old Boone High student after finding what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail in his backpack Friday morning.

The teen, who is not being named by the Orlando Sentinel because of his age, was charged with possession of a hoax device, possession of alcohol by a minor and disruption of a school.

A school resource officer stopped a truant student on Michigan Avenue and was taking him back to the school when the officer found the device, said spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones

While searching the student's backpack, the officer found a white package that was wrapped in clear tape and had black and red wires sticking out of the top. The student said it was a personal science project and contained alcohol.

The officer immediately set down the backpack and called for assistance.

Nearby Boone High School and Blankner K-8 were briefly placed on lockdown during the investigation.

The Orlando Fire Department bomb squad determined that the package was only a hoax and not an actual explosive. It contained Wild Irish Rose wine and a piece of white paper with chemical formulas written on it.